Gluten-Free Harvest Cookies

Packed with all of fall’s best treats, these Gluten-Free Harvest Cookies are the perfect way to welcome the change of seasons!

It’s [almost] officially official: fall is here!

While I maaaay be a bit of summer fanatic and am sad to see my most favorite season go, I must admit that I am getting pretty excited about the change in seasons.

I mean: big sweaters, falling leaves, cute boots, pumpkin everythang, HARVEST COOKIES. How can you be even the slightest bit mad about that?

Answer: you can’t. ESPECIALLY after you try one of these cookies.

I first tried these cookies about 12 years ago (when did I get so old?!?!) when I was representing my dad’s bakery at a local farmer’s market in Pittsburgh. It was one of the last markets of the season, and the inaugural year for this particular market, so to say thank you to all of the farmers/vendors who participated, the lady who organized it baked and gave away these cookies.

And let me tell you: it was love at first bite.

I begged my dad to reach out to the lady for the recipe, and after a little bit of bartering (she asked for the bakery’s famous cookie recipe in return – HAHAHAHA she so fun-nay) she shared her family’s Harvest Cookies recipe with us. She said these cookies have been in her family for GENERATIONS. And for good reason! They are still the best darn fall cookie I have ever had to date.

They are packed with all the good stuff: dates, apples, craisins, sunflower seeds, oats, cinnamon and cloves ← ummm HELLO fall in a mouthful. I can’t even begin to describe the warm, fuzzy fall feeling that is coming over me just telling you all about them. In fact, they leave such a lasting impression that I can SMELL them right now, just from memory. INSANE.

Now, of course, her family’s recipe wasn’t gluten-free, but (a) I didn’t know that gluten was the problem way back then and (b) when have I ever shied away from a recipe conversion when delicious desserts are on the line? (hint: never).

So, with just a tiny bit of recipe tweaking and testing – TA-DA – the best darn fall cookie I have ever had, now in gluten-free form.

YAS.

While I am just a taaaad obsessed with the ingredient combo in these cookies, feel free to have some fun with them! If you don’t like sunflower seeds, throw in some pepitas or pecans. Both are equally fall-y! Don’t have any dates on hand? Swap in some raisins in their place (though you have to pinky promise me you’ll try it with dates some time. SO GOOD!) Just don’t mess with the apple or the oats. Those are absolute musts 🙂

And as if having fall oh so perfectly wrapped up in one little cookie wasn’t enough mind-blowing awesomeness for the day, get this: NO DOUGH CHILLING REQUIRED.

Mmmmkay, yep, yep, I’m in. If I had a plate of these in front of me, they would be DEVOURED. I absolutely love dates in cookies– one of my mom’s staple Christmas cookies has dates in it and I LOVEEEEE that aspect of them. Also, apples in cookies?! I mean, come on… These cookies couldn’t be more perfect! I’m thinking I need to whip up a batch of these in my kitchen ASAP!

These cookies are everything autumn in one tiny gorgeous package! Dates, apples, cranberries, sunflower seeds and all those awesome spices – deliciousness in every bite! These would be the perfect weekend post-run nibble I think 🙂

These look and sound fantastic, Leah — I can totally taste that “fall in a mouthful” taste just looking at the ingredients line-up. Loved reading the backstory too. So were you always gluten-intolerant and just didn’t know it? Or was it something that just developed later in life? I can’t imagine having a dad running a bakery and me not being able to eat anything there *sigh*

A little bit of both – I starting having HORRIBLE tummy troubles towards the beginning of high school, but I didn’t discover that gluten was the problem for 9 years, despite going to specialist after specialist after specialist. My poor dad’s reaction was “I’ve been poisoning you all these years!” when we found out. I miss his bread more than anything, but luckily my husband gets to enjoy it for me 🙂

Hi! I’m Leah

I'm a gluten-free food enthusiast (yes, you read that right -- a gluten-free enthusiast)! I'm so happy you stopped by! Here at Grain Changer you'll find lots of recipes that are simple, approachable, TASTY, and just so happen to be gluten free. Learn More…